IQNA

120,000 Afghan Arbaeen Pilgrims Expected to Travel to Iraq via Iranian Border Crossing   

12:37 - August 20, 2022
News ID: 3480164
TEHRAN (IQNA) – Around 120,000 people from Afghanistan are predicted to travel to Iraq via Iran during the Arbaeen season, an Iranian official said.

Arbaeen pilgrims

 

Mahdi Davandeh, the governor of Taibad County in the eastern province of Razavi Khorasan, said the Afghan pilgrims will enter Iran via the Dogharoun Border Crossing.

It is the most commonly crossed border point between Afghanistan and Iran.

Speaking at a meeting of the Arbaeen Headquarters, Davandeh said two Moukebs (resting places providing pilgrims with accommodation, food and other services) will be set up in the border crossing to welcome the pilgrims from Afghanistan.

Afghanistan is a Muslim majority country in Asia. Shia Islam in Afghanistan is practiced by a minority of the population; estimates vary from 15 to 20 percent. 

Last month, an official with the Iranian Interior Ministry said the country is ready to host 400,000 pilgrims who seek to pass through Iran to reach Iraq for the great march of Arbaeen.

Seyed Majid Mirahmadi, deputy Interior Minister and head of Iran’s Arbaeen Headquarters, said the borders for the entry and exit of foreign pilgrims have been determined and related provinces have been tasked with preparing the grounds for hosting the pilgrims.

He added that the responsibility of accompanying foreign pilgrims inside Iran has been given to the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC).

Some 100,000 foreign pilgrims, mostly from Afghanistan, reached Iraq after crossing Iran in the Arbaeen of 2019, he said, adding that according to estimates, this number may reach 400,000 this year.

The Arbaeen mourning ceremony is one of the largest religious gatherings in the world.

It marks the 40th day after Ashura, the martyrdom anniversary of the grandson of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), Imam Hussein (AS). This year’s Arbaeen falls on September 17.

Each year, a huge crowd of Shias flock to Karbala, where the holy shrine of Imam Hussein (AS) is located, to perform mourning rites.

The pilgrims, mainly from Iraq and Iran, travel long routes on foot to the holy city.

 

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